In preparation for the Paris Olympic Games, authorities in France recently conducted a large-scale eviction at the country’s biggest squat in the southern part of Paris. The makeshift camp, located at an abandoned bus company headquarters in Vitry-sur-Seine, was home to around 450 migrants. Images of the eviction quickly spread on social media, raising concerns among aid workers about the lack of longer-term housing assistance for those evicted. Paul Alauzy from the humanitarian organization Médecins du Monde highlighted the steady pace of evictions over the past two years, noting that the squat had doubled in size due to the Olympics.
The living conditions inside the warehouse were described as cramped, and the clearance operation is expected to continue over several days. Prior to the police arrival, 150 people had already left, while 300 individuals, including 20 children and 50 women, were evicted on Wednesday morning. This eviction is part of a broader effort by local authorities to dismantle makeshift camps as the city prepares to host the Olympics from July 26 to August 11. Advocacy groups have expressed concerns about the rapid pace of camp clearances, warning of the severe consequences for those left without shelter.
Observers reported that five buses were present at the site to transport migrants to specially allocated locations in cities like Orleans or Bordeaux, as well as temporary filtering sites in the wider Paris region. Despite these efforts, there are fears that many of the evicted migrants may end up sleeping rough on the streets again in a matter of days or weeks. The fate of these displaced individuals, especially families with school-going children, remains a pressing issue as the city readies itself for the global spotlight that comes with hosting the Olympic Games.
French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera emphasized that the eviction was unrelated to the Olympics, stating that similar policies were implemented both before and after the Games. She also highlighted the government’s commitment to handling difficult situations with humanity, working closely with aid groups to ensure fairness in the process. The tension between urban beautification efforts and support for marginalized communities has been brought to the forefront as these evictions take place in the lead-up to the Olympics. Earlier this month, French police removed around 50 migrants, including families with young children, from the forecourt of Paris City Hall, transporting them to temporary government housing in another town.
